Duelling Investigations

The Attorney General is investigating the Administration. The Legislature is investigating the Attorney General at the behest of the Administration.

The Star Tribune sets the stage:

"House Republican leaders announced the creation of a committee to look into the role of Hatch, a DFLer, in an enforcement action against an insurance company this year and his relationship with Qwest Telecommunications in a separate regulatory matter.

Hatch, meanwhile, said the Republican interest in his roles in those cases is merely a smokescreen to divert attention away from Pawlenty and his ties to a different telecommunications company."

While Sviggum and the Legislative Committee investigate the Attorney General, the AGO will be investigating not only Pawlenty's (and Pat Awada's) connections with NewTel - but our old friend, the American Bankers story:

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, said the House focus would be into the "potential illegal and unethical actions of Mike Hatch" on the American Bankers Insurance Co. settlement, which already has been scrutinized by the legislative auditor, and on an investigation of alleged anticompetitive practices by Qwest.

Looks like I may need to add a Part 6 to the American Bankers piece...

Posted by Mitch at August 14, 2003 08:56 AM